Author Archives: Amy Kay Watson

What to do if you’re afraid you are the bad manager

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Melissa is a hard-working leader in her organization who found herself entangled in a vicious cycle of self-criticism. She received feedback about the need to hone her listening skills and adapt her approach to be more audience-focused. Despite her efforts, she grappled with quietening her mind during conversations and presentations. Her thoughts, laden with self-criticism,

How to respond to new-role requests you aren’t ready for

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Stepping into a new leadership role can feel like landing on an alien planet. You’re dealing with new rules, new people, and tons of requests that all seem to expect you to have a magic crystal ball. They want an answer now, but you’re still trying to figure out what the question is. It’s rough,

How Managers Can Support Employees in Times of Tragedy

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As managers, it is important to be aware of the potential impact of tragic events on our employees, especially in the aftermath of recent shootings, natural disasters, or other tragic events. These events can flood our news feeds and can have a significant effect on the mental and emotional well-being of our team members. When

How Emotional Self-Awareness and the Mood Elevator Transformed My Career

Just two years into my first dream job, I got fired. Like many new managers, I had been promoted because I was ambitious and good at the front-line work. But as soon as I was promoted I started using my authority to boss people around. I assumed I was right and they were wrong, and

An Introverted Manager’s Roadmap to Recognizing and Celebrating Team Wins

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I was working with an IT manager for a small nonprofit, and while he cared about the team members reporting to him, he wondered sometimes if they didn’t deserve a manager who could pump them up, Ted Lasso style. Fortunately we were able to find ways he could be his authentic self at work and

Navigate Change and Overcome Failure

Let’s be honest here. We all want to make some changes in our lives. Maybe it’s your job, or your relationships, or even your business. Or maybe there’s a passion, like writing, that you wish you had more time for. Face Failure Head-On Here’s the real deal: When you try something new, there’s a chance

From Dread to Momentum: A Strategy to Start Any Task

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My client, a construction manager, was working on three buildings simultaneously. He was juggling three different architects and three separate contractor teams. If that wasn’t enough, he and his wife were renovating a rowhouse in anticipation of their first child. He said he wanted to talk about time management and prioritization. Soon, he opened up